During major pelvic surgery, ureteral injury is always a concern. Pelvic abscesses, sigmoid colectomy for recurrent diverticulitis, and colectomy for ulcerative colitis are only some examples of surgeries where inflammation and loss of normal anatomic planes make a ureteral injury even more difficult to avoid. Preoperative ureteral catheter placement is a relatively straightforward procedure that allows for tactile recognition of the ureter during open pelvic surgery. Lighted stents may be used in open as well as laparoscopic surgery. These give the ureter a faint glow, providing visual identification of the ureter intraoperatively.